Icelandic Chickens

[ConPollos]

I stopped by my neighbor's place to see how his young Icees are looking, and they're very pretty, especially his rooster. I told him I want to wait a year before buying Icees bc I'm new to chickens, Icees are flighty, and I'm into building my flock of docile affectionate colored egg layers. I figured he's got plenty of demand, so he won't miss selling to me this summer. I want more experience and to make sure I have the right setup to keep the Icees pure and happy.

 

[drumstick diva]

Are turkey broodies too heavy to hatch chicken eggs?

 

[KaldakurFarm]

Hi - I'm new here. I just got my first Icelandics after wanting them for a very long time. I was able to buy a small breeder's flock of 8 hens and 5 roos. I know, a lot of roos. The roos are all very different and pretty, so I know why she couldn't part with them. I don't know which one(s) I'll part with - tough call. They came with an incubator, so you bet I filled it up the first chance I got. I started my eggs today and am quite excited to see how well I can do on my first time out hatching.

The birds I got are a mix of all four lines. I am not very familiar with how chicken coloring works, but I'm hoping to get a blue one. There was a blue hen, but she had an accident before I picked them up, so I know there is blue in these lines somewhere. I do have one multicolored rooster that I think might be partially blue. If he isn't blue it's a pretty gray! I'll try to get a picture of him and maybe you all can help me figure it out. I'd love some more crested ones, but the I don't think my crested hens are laying, they look young to me. 8 hens, I average 4 eggs a day. The four that I believe are laying are all yellow/cream varieties. Is there any place online that has any reference to the different colorings and what they might be called? I wouldn't mind knowing the proper names.

I also have Icelandic horses, Icelandic sheep and an Icelandic sheepdog - so getting the chickens was a given. I really like them thus far - although their eggs are tiny - that surprised me. I'm used to big rock eggs.


One of my "yellow/cream" hens.

One of my roos and a small black crested hen.

If our weather ever clears up I'll get some better outside pictures...

 

[whitmore]

Hi - I'm new here. I just got my first Icelandics after wanting them for a very long time. I was able to buy a small breeder's flock of 8 hens and 5 roos. I know, a lot of roos. The roos are all very different and pretty, so I know why she couldn't part with them. I don't know which one(s) I'll part with - tough call. They came with an incubator, so you bet I filled it up the first chance I got. I started my eggs today and am quite excited to see how well I can do on my first time out hatching. The birds I got are a mix of all four lines. I am not very familiar with how chicken coloring works, but I'm hoping to get a blue one. There was a blue hen, but she had an accident before I picked them up, so I know there is blue in these lines somewhere. I do have one multicolored rooster that I think might be partially blue. If he isn't blue it's a pretty gray! I'll try to get a picture of him and maybe you all can help me figure it out. I'd love some more crested ones, but the I don't think my crested hens are laying, they look young to me. 8 hens, I average 4 eggs a day. The four that I believe are laying are all yellow/cream varieties. Is there any place online that has any reference to the different colorings and what they might be called? I wouldn't mind knowing the proper names. I also have Icelandic horses, Icelandic sheep and an Icelandic sheepdog - so getting the chickens was a given. I really like them thus far - although their eggs are tiny - that surprised me. I'm used to big rock eggs. One of my "yellow/cream" hens. One of my roos and a small black crested hen. If our weather ever clears up I'll get some better outside pictures...

CONGRATS!

 

[RedIII]

Welcome, KaldakurFarms! You have some very lovely birds. The Icee eggs do seem to get larger after the first year, at least they have with my girls.

I stopped by my neighbor's place to see how his young Icees are looking, and they're very pretty, especially his rooster. I told him I want to wait a year before buying Icees bc I'm new to chickens, Icees are flighty, and I'm into building my flock of docile affectionate colored egg layers. I figured he's got plenty of demand, so he won't miss selling to me this summer. I want more experience and toake sure I have the right setup to keep the Icees pure and happy.

It was kind of an adjustment for me, too. I still get colored egg envy, lol.

Are turkey broodies  too heavy to hatch chicken eggs?

One of my turkeys has sat on chicken eggs for several days with no problems. I hate to take them away from her.

 

[NotAFarm]

I candled my Cinco de Mayo hatch a long eggs today. 16 of 17 developing.

But still no broody.

Heppni was broody for +-4 days when I gave her chicks and she is doing great.......you still have time

 

[NotAFarm]

I stopped by my neighbor's place to see how his young Icees are looking, and they're very pretty, especially his rooster. I told him I want to wait a year before buying Icees bc I'm new to chickens, Icees are flighty, and I'm into building my flock of docile affectionate colored egg layers. I figured he's got plenty of demand, so he won't miss selling to me this summer. I want more experience and toake sure I have the right setup to keep the Icees pure and happy.

Sounds like you have a great plan for success! It is nice that you have a neighbor with "Icelandic experience"

I hope you'll stick around this thread and ask questions you might have.

 

[NotAFarm]

Hi - I'm new here. I just got my first Icelandics after wanting them for a very long time. I was able to buy a small breeder's flock of 8 hens and 5 roos. I know, a lot of roos. The roos are all very different and pretty, so I know why she couldn't part with them. I don't know which one(s) I'll part with - tough call. They came with an incubator, so you bet I filled it up the first chance I got. I started my eggs today and am quite excited to see how well I can do on my first time out hatching.

The birds I got are a mix of all four lines. I am not very familiar with how chicken coloring works, but I'm hoping to get a blue one. There was a blue hen, but she had an accident before I picked them up, so I know there is blue in these lines somewhere. I do have one multicolored rooster that I think might be partially blue. If he isn't blue it's a pretty gray! I'll try to get a picture of him and maybe you all can help me figure it out. I'd love some more crested ones, but the I don't think my crested hens are laying, they look young to me. 8 hens, I average 4 eggs a day. The four that I believe are laying are all yellow/cream varieties. Is there any place online that has any reference to the different colorings and what they might be called? I wouldn't mind knowing the proper names.

I also have Icelandic horses, Icelandic sheep and an Icelandic sheepdog - so getting the chickens was a given. I really like them thus far - although their eggs are tiny - that surprised me. I'm used to big rock eggs.



If our weather ever clears up I'll get some better outside pictures...

and to the Icelandic thread!! My two original hens didn't have crests but my two roosters did (...not huge ones at that) and I hatched crested, and uncrested, chicks from them. There is no color chart specifically for Icelandics that I know of since they have not been bred to any standard. There are terms that people who breed to the Standard of Perfection use and those into genetics use. I am still trying to "wrap my head around" how they apply to my Icelandic flock. Your light colored hen looks like a couple of mine. I look forward to more pictures when you get a chance to take them!

 

[mlm Mike]

Hi - I'm new here. I just got my first Icelandics after wanting them for a very long time. I was able to buy a small breeder's flock of 8 hens and 5 roos. I know, a lot of roos. The roos are all very different and pretty, so I know why she couldn't part with them. I don't know which one(s) I'll part with - tough call. They came with an incubator, so you bet I filled it up the first chance I got. I started my eggs today and am quite excited to see how well I can do on my first time out hatching.

The birds I got are a mix of all four lines. I am not very familiar with how chicken coloring works, but I'm hoping to get a blue one. There was a blue hen, but she had an accident before I picked them up, so I know there is blue in these lines somewhere. I do have one multicolored rooster that I think might be partially blue. If he isn't blue it's a pretty gray! I'll try to get a picture of him and maybe you all can help me figure it out. I'd love some more crested ones, but the I don't think my crested hens are laying, they look young to me. 8 hens, I average 4 eggs a day. The four that I believe are laying are all yellow/cream varieties. Is there any place online that has any reference to the different colorings and what they might be called? I wouldn't mind knowing the proper names.

I also have Icelandic horses, Icelandic sheep and an Icelandic sheepdog - so getting the chickens was a given. I really like them thus far - although their eggs are tiny - that surprised me. I'm used to big rock eggs.


One of my "yellow/cream" hens.

One of my roos and a small black crested hen.

If our weather ever clears up I'll get some better outside pictures...

Welcome. It sounds like you are off to a good start. Now I'll ask the important question, who did you get your Icelandic Sheepdog from? (I co-own 5 of them, but only four live with me, the 5th live up in the thumb of MI)

 

[KaldakurFarm]

Welcome. It sounds like you are off to a good start. Now I'll ask the important question, who did you get your Icelandic Sheepdog from? (I co-own 5 of them, but only four live with me, the 5th live up in the thumb of MI)

I got my Icelandic Sheepdog from Nor'star Icelandics (he is Nor'star Kobbi), I'm not sure they are even breeding anymore. My dog is 13yrs old now, he's a great old man . Best dog ever, hands down!

and to the Icelandic thread!! My two original hens didn't have crests but my two roosters did (...not huge ones at that) and I hatched crested, and uncrested, chicks from them. There is no color chart specifically for Icelandics that I know of since they have not been bred to any standard. There are terms that people who breed to the Standard of Perfection use and those into genetics use. I am still trying to "wrap my head around" how they apply to my Icelandic flock. Your light colored hen looks like a couple of mine. I look forward to more pictures when you get a chance to take them!

Thanks NotAFarm! That's great to know, I do really like the goofiness of the crests! The lady I bought them from had some names for the colors, but I've never heard them used elsewhere so I wasn't sure. I think color genetics are pretty fun, but I'm kind of dorky like that! This is a picture she took of the cockerel she calls a "blue birchen." Would he be considered partially "blue?" I like the color regardless, they come in such fun colors.